Police Disrupt Women's Rights Gathering In Tehran

Police questioning demonstrators in Tehran today (kosoof.com)
PRAGUE, June 12, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Iranian police today disrupted a gathering in Tehran of a group of women's rights activists who were protesting legal discrimination.

Human rights activist Keyvan Rafi, who attended the gathering, tells RFE/RL that more than a dozen people were arrested.

"There were very tight security measures," Rafi said. "There were maybe as many security forces as [participants]. Some of the women were arrested. [Despite that,] some peacefully chanted slogans such as, 'Laws that are against women should be abolished.'"

The activists were demanding equal legal rights in issues such as divorce, child custody, and inheritance.

Amnesty International today called on the Iranian government to end discrimination against women.

Women In Iran

Women in Tehran (epa file photo)

CALLING FOR MORE RIGHTS: Although women played key roles in Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the place of women in post-revolutionary society has been a vexing question. Iranian women have struggled to bring attention to their calls for greater rights in their country's rigid theocratic system, calls that have often clashed with the values proclaimed by conservatives in society. (more)